A doctor training to become a consultant caused a serious head-on collision while driving under the influence, resulting in severe injuries to a taxi driver.
Nayer Youakim was found with twice the legal alcohol limit in his system after veering onto the wrong side of Beach Road in North Shields, North Tyneside. The crash with a taxi occurred shortly before midnight on November 24, 2024.
Despite initially downplaying his drinking—claiming he had “not too much, two pints”—tests showed Youakim had 72 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
READ MORE: ‘A Pub is for Life’ – Midland Boozer Urges Customers: ‘Don’t Ghost Your Local’ in January
READ MORE: Inside Birmingham’s Sewage Plant: Items You Should Never Flush
Prosecutor Lucy Todd detailed the incident, explaining that the taxi driver had just dropped off a passenger and was heading home when he was struck. The driver was dazed by the headlights of Youakim’s car coming toward him before the crash. The impact sent the taxi spinning across the road while Youakim’s car ended up on the pavement.
Officers found Youakim disoriented and impaired at the scene. He told them he was heading to the Coast Road when the taxi suddenly appeared in his path.
The taxi driver sustained multiple serious injuries, including fractures to his shoulder and arm, a swollen hip, and suspected broken ribs. In a victim impact statement, he expressed anger at the crash and the long recovery ahead but said, “I feel very lucky to be alive.”
Youakim, 37, from Solihull, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink-driving. Recorder Mark McKone KC highlighted the severity of the offense but acknowledged Youakim’s medical career and lack of previous convictions. He noted that an immediate prison sentence could harm Youakim’s professional future and impact the patients he serves.
Youakim works as an ear, nose, and throat registrar, performing surgery across three hospitals and training to be a consultant. His sentencing included an 18-month prison term suspended for two years, 250 hours of unpaid work, £150 in costs, and a two-year driving ban with an extended driving test requirement.
Representing Youakim, Laura Miller described the crash as an “extraordinary lapse of judgment.” She argued that her client did not intentionally mislead investigators and deeply regrets his actions. Miller added that Youakim has sought help to understand why he drank before driving and that this incident is completely out of character for him.